Benjamin F. Cravatt and Joel M.

Gottesfeld
Chemical Biology Meets Biological Chemistry Minireview Series
J Biol Chem. 2010 Apr. 9; 285(15): 11031-11032

The topic highlights the relevance of chemical biology and biological chemistry and their
applications in understanding complex biological processes. Hence, the development of synthetic
compounds either as tools for research or as a candidate for therapeutics for human disease are
also of an interest in the topic.

The title is appropriate and clear as it emphasized on the relevance of both chemical
biology and biological chemistry and their applications in understanding life. The authors
defined Chemical Biology as a scientific discipline circulating in the fields of chemistry and
biology as it also involves the applications of chemical techniques and tools that produced
through synthetic chemistry to be used to the study and manipulation if biological processes.
Likewise, biological chemistry focuses on the study of life processes at a molecular level.

The authors of the different minireviews utilizes the chemical techniques and approaches
in manipulating complex biological processes. The discussion focuses on the underlying
assumptions of the authors that the development of molecules to probe the mechanisms that
served as a foundation in transcriptional regulation and identification of potential drug
candidates. The synthesis of a small molecules controls the transcriptions in eukaryotic cells.
According to the authors of “Transcriptional Switches: Chemical Approaches to Gene
Regulation”, (L. Lee and A. Mapp), the development of novel small molecule transcriptional
regulators is used based on a known protein structures. The authors also added that, the
interactions between this important transcriptional regulatory protein and its protein partners, if
disrupted, may serve as a novel cancer therapeutic. This can be a potential regulator in human
health.

Although the minirevies provide limited information in regards to their filed of study, the
article provides minireviews that highlights the successes in the application of methods and
applications of chemistry to the important problems in biology. The article also addresses to
identify potential ways in improving human health by manipulating and modifying process in
relation to the chemical methods and approaches. The article was able to accomplish its goal and
purpose in providing examples in the use of chemical biology in biological chemistry.
Furthermore, the authors were able to discuss thoroughly the topics and provided the methods
and applications of chemistry in their research.